Vaporizing devices and methods for delivering a compound using the same

Abstract

A method of treating disorders in a human or animal subject may include heating a material containing a compound to a first temperature to form a heated volume of the material. The method may additionally include heating the heated volume to a higher second temperature to form a dose of vapor including the compound. The method may also include administering the dose of vapor to the subject to treat disorders such as pain. The method may further include pre-heating the material to a preliminary temperature prior to the heating to the first temperature. The heating and pre-heating may be performed with a capsule including two covering layers, each including an electrically conductive material, configured to hold the material therebetween and to generate heat by resistive heating.

1 . A vaporizing device, comprising:
 a reloading unit configured to house one or more capsules containing a compound for vaporization; and   a vaporizing unit configured to reversibly engage with the reloading unit, the vaporizing unit configured to receive a capsule of the one or more capsules housed by the reloading unit.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit has a first end, an opposing second end, and a mouthpiece at the first end. 
     
     
         3 . The vaporizing device of  claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece is configured to permit a release of a vapor of the compound. 
     
     
         4 . The vaporizing device of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the vaporizing unit is configured to engage with the reloading unit. 
     
     
         5 . The vaporizing device of  claim 2 , wherein a majority of the vaporizing unit is seated within the reloading unit when engaged while the mouthpiece remains exposed. 
     
     
         6 . The vaporizing device of  claim 2 , wherein the vaporizing unit defines an opening configured to receive the capsule, the opening being between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The vaporizing device of  claim 6 , wherein the opening is within the reloading unit when the vaporizing unit is engaged with the reloading unit. 
     
     
         8 . The vaporizing device of  claim 6 , wherein the vaporizing unit has a width, and the opening is in a form of a slot that extends in a direction of the width. 
     
     
         9 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit is configured to receive the capsule such that the capsule is positioned completely within the vaporizing unit. 
     
     
         10 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit includes a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive the capsule in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit includes a first power supply configured to supply an electrical current to the capsule to vaporize the compound. 
     
     
         12 . The vaporizing device of  claim 11 , wherein the vaporizing unit includes electrodes configured to electrically connect with the capsule to apply the electrical current, the electrodes configured to be biased against the capsule when the capsule is received within the vaporizing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizing unit defines a groove configured to facilitate an insertion and alignment of the vaporizing unit within the reloading unit. 
     
     
         14 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the reloading unit is configured to house a plurality of capsules in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The vaporizing device of  claim 14 , wherein the reloading unit includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a resilient element, the reloading unit configured to receive the vaporizing unit via the proximal end, the resilient element configured to bias the stacked configuration of capsules toward the proximal end of the reloading unit. 
     
     
         16 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the reloading unit defines a first receptacle and a second receptacle, the first receptacle configured to house new capsules, the second receptacle configured to house used capsules. 
     
     
         17 . The vaporizing device of  claim 16 , wherein the reloading unit includes capsule transfer gears configured to insert a new capsule from the first receptacle into the vaporizing unit and to move a used capsule from the vaporizing unit to the second receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The vaporizing device of  claim 1 , wherein the compound for vaporization includes nicotine.